Berkey Phoenix Lab Results: What the Tests Actually Show
Every performance claim we make about the Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition filter element should be traceable to a signed lab report, not a marketing page. This is the index: what was tested, by whom, under what conditions, and where each result sits in the full set of reports. Where something is certified, we say certified. Where something was lab tested, we say lab tested.
The testing portfolio was assembled between March 2025 and April 2026 by three independent laboratories in India, all accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by NABL. Water was deliberately spiked with known concentrations of each contaminant group so the elements faced challenge levels far above typical tap water, then analysed after filtration with instruments such as ICP-MS, GC-MS and HPLC.
One distinction matters more than any other on this page: certification and testing are not the same thing. The Phoenix element is certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372. Everything else here, including PFAS, lead, arsenic and pharmaceuticals, comes from independent laboratory analysis, not from an NSF certification. Both are useful. They are not interchangeable.
| Contaminant group | Tested | Reported reduction | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOCs | 60+ | 99.9%+ | CVR Labs 25030011.01 |
| Heavy metals | 16 | Most to non-detect; 82.6-99%+ | Atom Testing, Apr 2026 |
| Pesticides and herbicides | 65+ | 99.9%+ | RAYNU 2510041B |
| PFAS, initial panel | 7 | 99.8%+ initial | RAYNU 2510041A |
| PFAS, sustained | PFOA and PFOS, 5 checkpoints | Below 0.005 µg/L through 1,500 L | RAYNU 2511001 |
| Pharmaceuticals | 12 | 99.9%+ | RAYNU 2510041B |
| Disinfection byproducts | 18 | 99.0%+ | Atom Testing, Apr 2026 |
| Radiologicals | 6 | 99.9%+ | RAYNU 2510041A |
| Petroleum products | 6 | 99.0%+ | RAYNU 2510041A |
| Semi-volatiles and PCBs | 30+ and 8 | 99.9%+ | RAYNU 2510041A/B |
Three laboratories produced the portfolio. Each report names the product, the batch or part code, the instrument used, the challenge water chemistry and the detection limits.
- CVR Labs (P) Limited, Chennai, report 25030011.01, March 2025: VOCs, pesticides and metals.
- RAYNU Analytical and Research Lab LLP, Bangalore, reports 2510041A and 2510041B, September 2025: multi-category screening including PFAS, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, radiologicals and petroleum.
- RAYNU Analytical (formerly Atom Testing Laboratory), Bangalore, report 2511001, October 2025: sustained PFAS performance through 1,500 liters. Also an April 2026 heavy metals and inorganics report by ICP-MS.
Product tested across the portfolio: Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Element, part code PGF9-2. The complete Black Berkey testing archive lives separately on our test results page.
What it shows. Under laboratory conditions with deliberately elevated contaminant levels, the elements reduced the tested substances substantially, often to below the reporting limit. Those results are reproducible by anyone holding the reports, because every figure is tied to a method, a detection limit and a batch.
What it does not show. It is not a certification for those contaminants. It is not a guarantee about your tap water, where the mix of contaminants, water chemistry, flow rate, element age and maintenance all differ from a bench test. It is not a medical or health claim, and it does not substitute for your utility meeting its own regulated treatment obligations.
We publish this because it is checkable, and because you should not take a dealer's word for it. Ask for the report number and read it.
Is the Phoenix element NSF certified for PFAS removal?
No. It is certified to NSF/ANSI 42 (chlorine, taste and odor) and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 (lead-free materials). PFAS performance comes from independent laboratory testing, and we label it that way everywhere.
What does ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation actually mean?
It is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Accreditation means the lab is audited on its methods, equipment, traceability and staff competence, rather than simply being self-declared as capable.
Why are challenge concentrations so much higher than real tap water?
Spiking the water well above typical environmental levels is a stress test: it makes differences between filter designs visible in a short run. It also means the percentages cannot be read as predictions for a household tap.
Where can I read the full reports?
The category pages linked above summarise each report, including methods, instruments, detection limits and the contaminant tables. Report numbers are listed so you can request the source documents.